Chip Hustled in Panama

by the Wizard2011-02-23 20:15:38 (edited 2011-03-05 09:21)

Riande Continental

For the past 14 years, I've focused on writing about casinos. Throughout this time, I've journeyed around the globe, visiting a myriad of casinos to understand the gambling culture in different places. I’ve experienced many things, but nothing quite compares to my recent excursion to the Veneto Casino located in Panama City, Panama. Having just returned, I'm excited to share the details of my experience.

While I primarily traveled to Panama for financial purposes, I also aimed to explore and document the gambling landscape in Panama City. I plan to elaborate on that, along with other activities not related to gambling, in two future blog posts.

This was my first time visiting Panama. At the time of making my travel plans, I didn't know anyone there. Hence, I selected my hotel based on positive reviews I found on Travelocity and its reasonable price. I had no prior knowledge about the neighborhood's quality. After arriving late at night and checking in, I was given a room that overlooked Via Veneto. From my window, it was clear that this minor street was situated in a more adult-focused area, evident from the numerous bars, taxis, and people wandering around in the late hours. Riande Continental On my first night, I decided to visit the Crown Casino located in my hotel, and the experience was quite mundane. I played blackjack for about an hour and had no interaction with other patrons. It was a relatively small casino that seemed to cater predominantly to locals.

The morning after, I had a business meeting, but the rest of the day was free for me to explore. A must-see attraction for anyone visiting Panama City is the Panama Canal, which I made sure to visit that day. I'll provide more insights on that in an upcoming blog entry.

That Monday evening, I decided to broaden my experiences by venturing out to explore the vicinity surrounding my hotel. I walked down Via Veneto to experience the lively scene I had observed from my hotel room. There were several souvenir shops, fast food outlets, internet cafés, two strip clubs, and finally, the

Panama Canal — Miraflores Locks

Curious, I stepped inside and took an escalator to the second floor, which, judging by the sounds, was where the casino was located. In front of me was a young woman dressed provocatively, exuding that confident attitude often seen in sex workers. Upon reaching the top, I was astonished to see nearly 50 similar young women milling about. I had never encountered anything like this even in Macau. Everywhere I looked, there were beautiful young women in tight, revealing dresses and high heels. Veneto Hotel and Casino.

Initially taken aback, I sought refuge at a blackjack table situated at the back of the casino, where the crowd was thinner, hoping to blend in while engaging in the game. To maintain a good view of the surroundings, I settled in the center of the table.

After about fifteen minutes, a lovely young woman, likely in her mid-twenties, took a seat next to me. Unlike the other women surrounding us, she was dressed more conservatively and possessed both an appearance and demeanor reminiscent of the classic girl-next-door. She caught my attention, but characteristically I chose to keep to myself.

After playing silently for a while, she encountered a clear opportunity to double her bet—such as having an 11 against a dealer's 5. Lacking sufficient chips for a full double, she turned to me, asking if I could help her with the rest. Recognizing it as a favorable betting moment, I agreed. A slight worry crossed my mind that she might not pay me if we won, but it was only a $5 bet, and I wasn’t quite the gentleman to pass on the chance to engage with an attractive young woman. So, I placed my chips on top of hers, making a maximum double down bet. It turned out well, and she graciously returned my original stake plus winnings without a word. I likely murmured a simple 'thank you' and left it at that.

As a side note, the correct strategy in such piggybacking scenarios is to always bet when the opportunity presents itself with positive expected value. You can find tables with these opportunities outlined in my guide. Any green cell signifies a wise bet. If memorizing the entire guide feels daunting, just remember that every double down situation tends to hold positive expected value. If it didn't, you wouldn't be placing a larger wager.

Via Veneto

As our game progressed, similar opportunities arose, and feeling confident they were wise bets, I continued to back her bets—resulting in consistent wins for both of us. This was a delightful win-win situation: I was making mathematically favorable bets while also getting to know this charming lady as she began engaging me in conversation. blackjack appendix 5 Soon, three of her friends appeared and seated themselves on the other side of her. One, a young man, greeted her with the customary European hug and kiss on the cheek. I really need to learn the right way to execute such greetings, as I often fumble through them when it comes to non-American women. The guy gave off a slightly flamboyant vibe, but I refrain from making such assumptions. Regardless of his orientation, I believe it's poor etiquette to flirt with a woman in front of her male acquaintances.

Even with her friends present, she still allowed me to partially double down on her bets, consistently repaying me afterwards. I found it a bit curious to relinquish part of her advantageous double down opportunities to a stranger when she had her own funds available, but I strictly adhere to the rule of not giving unsolicited advice at the tables, especially if it might have negative results for me. This exchange went on for roughly an hour. Our chat remained light and brief, while her friends, who weren't participating, seemed to grow increasingly restless.

Eventually, the young lady announced, 'We're heading out to the balcony for a smoke. Would you like to join us?' As she gathered her chips, I presumed she wouldn’t return. Just a note: smoking is prohibited in Panamanian casinos, a regulation I greatly appreciate. Later, I found out they had a designated smoking area by the nearby sports book.

Left alone and somewhat bored in an unfamiliar environment, I felt tempted to join them. However, a flicker of skepticism crept in. A group of young people striking up a friendship with a middle-aged gentleman? Surely there must be some ulterior motive, but what could it be? My curiosity was piqued, but I decided to trust my instincts and politely declined, saying, 'No thanks, I don’t smoke.'

And so, they continued on their way. I spent a little more time playing alone before deciding to leave. As I made my way back to my hotel, I navigated through countless desperate-looking women on the street, men thrusting business cards for their shady establishments into my hands, and taxi drivers hollering, 'I can take you to a great spot!'

The following day, I embarked on a half-day sightseeing tour of Panama’s historical landmarks and later attended a business dinner at night. Upon returning to my hotel, I stored away my belongings and headed back to the Veneto Casino. On my second night there, I felt a surge of bravery, opting for a table nearer the entrance to observe the working girls. It was a bustling table, yet there was an empty seat to my left.

Just five minutes after seated, a scantily clad young woman joined me. She wore a short schoolgirl skirt, a low-cut shirt, and had layers of makeup. Immediately, she began chatting with me in Spanish. I saw this as an opportunity to practice my Spanish with someone attractive. To be honest, this was the first time I had such an opportunity; normally, my conversations are with maids or other staff, which aren’t exactly conducive to practicing my language skills.

The initial moments went well, but soon she exhausted the modest amount she had brought to the table. With big, puppy-dog eyes, she sat there quietly. In the spirit of supporting my live Spanish lesson, I decided to give her $10 in chips. Eventually, her funds dwindled again, but I was enjoying the interaction and handed her a bit more.

Then the table experienced a massive winning streak, and everyone was cashing in almost every hand. During this time, she gradually exchanged her red chips for green ones and stashed the greens in her purse. It appeared she was stretching her bets, never quite having enough to fully double down or split. Similar to the previous night’s encounter, she would ask me to cover the difference whenever the opportunity arose. As we continued, her bets increased and she encouraged me to raise my stakes as well, yet she returned less and less of what was owed to me when I won.

Let me take a moment to pause the narrative. The book I finished reading on my flight to Panama was by Rick Lax, titled, \"Hustlers, hookers, and headlines and how not to get screwed in Vegas?\" The author details his experiences befriending various characters to uncover their tactics. A common scheme involves visiting nightclubs as an assumed tourist, waiting to be approached, and subsequently requesting money to move up to a mark's room. The chapter I had just completed reflected on why many attractive women in their twenties don’t pursue the high-end escort profession that pays $500/hour. Both readings framed the sex work industry as similar to other service-oriented fields, requiring just the right tricks to attract customers (perhaps this explains why they refer to them as 'tricks') and some strategic maneuvering to remain below the law's radar. I wasn’t suggesting that the women I encountered were engaged in sex work, but I kept an open mind, particularly regarding the second one. My inquisitiveness drove me to gain a better understanding of their motives.

Returning to my tale, there were more red flags than at a Beijing parade on August 1 (marking the anniversary of the Chinese Army). Nonetheless, I was intrigued to discover where this was going, if anywhere. Gradually, it began turning into a costly educational experience about Spanish and hustling. On my final hand at the table, she requested to split and re-split her bets while doubling down on a few. Even though she had ample green chips in her purse, she reached for my sizable stack of red chips. She never vocalized it, and to be fair, I didn’t refuse. When the dealer busted, the total of our original bets and winnings was around $200, yet she returned a mere $50 to me. This felt incredibly insulting, prompting me to cash out and leave in frustration.

Chip's Experience at the Veneto in Panama - Wizard of Odds Fool me Once Explore Top Online Casinos Available in Your Region

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For 14 years, I have been immersed in the world of casinos. During this time, I have traveled extensively, visiting numerous casinos to experience their unique gambling atmospheres firsthand. Among all the places I've explored, none compare to the Veneto casino located in the vibrant Panama City. I recently returned from there, and I'm eager to share my experience.

My journey to Panama was primarily business-related, but I also had a secondary goal: to delve into and document the gambling landscape in Panama City. I plan to share insights and experiences from my exploration, including non-gambling attractions, in two upcoming blog posts.

Visiting Panama for the first time was intriguing. When I booked my trip, I didn’t know anyone in the country. I selected a hotel, the , based on favorable reviews on Travelocity and a reasonable price. I was unaware of the area’s nuances. Upon arriving late at night, I checked in and found my room overlooked Via Veneto. It quickly became apparent from my window that I was in a district catering to adult entertainment, with numerous bars, taxis, and people bustling around.

On my first evening, I decided to check out the Crown Casino located within my hotel, but the experience was rather uneventful. I spent about an hour playing blackjack, with no interactions with other patrons. It appeared to be a small casino that mainly attracted local visitors.

The following morning, I had a business meeting scheduled, but after that, the rest of the day was free for me. One must-see attraction for any tourist in Panama City is the famed Panama Canal, which I made sure to visit that day. I will elaborate on that experience in another blog post.

Veneto front entrance.

Later that evening, which happened to be a Monday, I made an effort to broaden my horizons and explore the areas adjacent to my hotel. I walked down Via Veneto to immerse myself in the lively atmosphere I had observed from my hotel room's view. The street was lined with various gift shops, fast food outlets, internet cafes, and even a couple of strip clubs, culminating in my arrival at the

Upon entering, I took an escalator up to the second floor, where the sound indicated that the casino was located. Ahead of me on the escalator was a young woman dressed provocatively, exuding an air of confidence that is characteristic of women in such professions. As I reached the top and scanned the room, I was struck by the sight of around 50 young women, all similarly attired. I had never witnessed anything like this, even in Macau. The place was filled with attractive women sporting tight dresses and high heels.

Initially feeling a bit overwhelmed by the atmosphere, I sought out a blackjack table in the casino's quieter back area, assuming that playing would keep me somewhat below the radar. I picked a spot in the middle of the table for a clear view.

After some time, a charming young woman, probably in her twenties, sat down beside me. Unlike many others in the casino, she was conservatively dressed and radiated a friendly, approachable vibe. She caught my attention, but being a fairly reserved person, I remained focused on my game.

About five minutes into our silent gambling, she found herself in a situation where a double down was clearly the way to go, having an 11 against a dealer's 5. Lacking sufficient chips to fully double down, she turned to me and asked if I would like to contribute to her bet. Recognizing this as a favorable chance, I consented. A small concern crept in regarding whether she would honor the payment if we won, but for a modest wager of just $5, I decided to take a chance, hoping to strike up a conversation with this attractive woman. I placed my chips alongside hers for a maximum double down, which won, and she promptly reimbursed me for my initial stake and winnings without further comment. My only response was a simple 'thank you'.

It's worth noting that in such situations where you're invited to share a bet, the advisable strategy is to take advantage of any opportunity with a positive expected value. Tables with these kinds of chances can be found in my . Any cell in green indicates a worthwhile bet. If memorization isn't your style, at least keep in mind that every double down situation offers a positive expected value. If it didn't, you wouldn't be betting more.

As the game progressed, I was presented with similar opportunities to piggyback on her bets. They always appeared to be solid situations, so I obliged, and we often ended up winning. It was a delightful mix of making mathematically sound bets and getting to know the lovely lady beside me, who began to chat more. Javier Bardem Soon, three of her friends joined us and took seats next to her. One of them was a young man who greeted her with what I assume was the customary European hug and a kiss on the cheek. I found myself wishing I knew the proper way to execute that greeting, as I often fumble when I encounter women from non-American backgrounds, which isn’t particularly frequent for me. The guy gave off a vibe that led me to question his orientation, but I’d rather avoid making conclusions about someone without knowing them well, as it feels unrefined to pursue a woman when an acquaintance is present.

Even with her friends joining our setting, she continued to allow me to partially double down on her bets and faithfully returned my winnings each time. While it seemed imprudent to relinquish part of her strong double down opportunities to a stranger when she clearly had her own funds available, I maintain a personal rule of refraining from giving unsolicited advice at gaming tables, especially if it may negatively impact my own interests. This pattern continued for roughly an hour, with her engaging in light conversation, while her friends who were merely spectating appeared to grow increasingly disinterested.

Eventually, the young woman announced, 'We’re going to go smoke on the balcony. Care to join us?' As she began gathering her chips, I had the distinct feeling she wouldn't be coming back. It’s also worth mentioning that in Panama, smoking is prohibited in casinos, a regulation I fully support. I later learned they have a designated balcony area by the sports betting section for those who smoke. Casino Hold 'Em Feeling a bit lonely and bored in an unfamiliar place, I was tempted to join them. However, something didn’t sit right with me. A group of young people taking interest in a man my age felt suspicious; surely there had to be some ulterior motive. My curiosity was piqued, but ultimately skepticism triumphed, and I turned them down saying, 'No thanks, I don’t smoke.'

They departed, and I spent some more time playing on my own before deciding to leave. On the walk back to my hotel, I navigated past numerous individuals who gave off desperate vibes, soliciting their services, with men awkwardly offering me business cards advertising their establishments while taxi drivers shouted offers of, 'I can take you to a great place!'

The next day, I participated in a half-day tour exploring Panama's historical landmarks and attended a business dinner that evening. Upon returning to my hotel, I unpacked my belongings and made my way back to the Veneto. Feeling a bit more adventurous on my second night, I opted for a table situated nearer to the entrance of the casino to observe the goings-on of the working girls. Although the table was bustling, there was an open seat available to my left.

Not long after taking my seat, a beautiful young woman settled beside me. She sported a short, schoolgirl-style skirt, a low-cut top, and quite a bit of makeup. She immediately struck up a conversation with me in Spanish. I was eager to seize the opportunity to practice my Spanish, especially with such a charming companion. To be honest, this was the first encounter of its kind for me; usually, I find myself struggling with my language skills while interacting with maids and gardeners, so this was indeed a refreshing change.

The initial few minutes went smoothly, but then she quickly lost the small amount of chips she had at the table. Sitting quietly with pleading eyes, she seemed at a loss. Wanting to help her with what I thought could be a lesson in Spanish, I handed her $10 in chips. Eventually, she ran out again, but I was enjoying our exchange, so I provided some more.

Then the table started to heat up, with everyone winning hand after hand. At this point, I noticed her steadily changing her red chips for green ones and putting the greens in her purse. It appeared she was being strategic with her betting, carefully ensuring she never quite had enough money to fully double down or split. Just like the girl from the previous night, she asked me for contributions on those occasions. As the bets increased, so did her encouragement for me to wager higher amounts, while she began returning less of my winnings.

Let me pause for a moment to note that I had recently finished reading a book on the flight to Panama titled by Rick Lax. The subtitle was 'Hustlers, Hookers, and Headlines and How Not to Get Screwed in Vegas.' In it, the author shared personal experiences befriending individuals from these worlds to understand their strategies. A common theme was for attractive women to attend nightclubs, pose as tourists, entice men, and then request money to accompany them to a hotel room. One chapter queried why many attractive women in their twenties do not gravitate toward working as high-end escorts at prices like $500/hr. The book made the comparison that the profession of prostitution resembles any other service-based industry, with success relying on finding customers discreetly and navigating legal challenges. While I wasn’t asserting that the women I met were indeed involved in prostitution, I couldn’t wholly dismiss it either, especially with the second one. Out of sheer curiosity, I was trying to discern their angle.

Returning to my narrative, I felt the number of warning bells rising against my better judgment. Yet I remained curious about where this was leading, if anywhere. With each passing moment, it felt like an expensive lesson in Spanish and street smarts. During my final hand at the table, she made a split, re-split, and several double down bets. Despite having a good stash of green chips in her purse, she continued to reach for my larger red chips. She never requested them, and truthfully, I didn’t outright refuse. The dealer ended up busting, and the total of our bets and winnings was around $200. She handed me back only about $50, which I found quite disrespectful, prompting me to color up and leave in frustration.

Panama City skyline.

Chip's Adventures in Panama - Wizard of Odds

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